THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL…
EPHESIANS 1
Paul’s Missionary Journeys
Year Major Event Acts Period Letters
INTRODUCTION
•Capital city of Asia Minor for Roman Empire
•Critical trade route – “San Francisco”
•Home of the Temple of Diana –goddess of
fertility. Many were people of Celtic “race”
•At the end of Paul’s 2nd Missionary journey,
he left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus to
pastor the church there (Acts 18)
•During Paul’s 3rd Missionary journey, he
spent 3 years in Ephesus. As he leaves, he
warns them of the ‘savage wolves’ who aim
to destroy them (Acts 19-20)
•Note the Lord’s message to the
believers in Ephesus –Revelation 2:
1 – 7, “Return to your first love…”
•The Apostle John wrote his last
three books/letters while living in
Ephesus (I, II, III John, and
Revelation).
•Two Focused Topic Divisions:
a) Members of Christ’s Body:
Chapters 1 - 3
b) Duties of the Members of the
Body: Chapters 4 - 6
Chapter 1 The Mystery of Christ Is Revealed
V1 Paul –an apostle (missionary) of Jesus called to preach to the
non-Jewish community, now writes to “God’s holy people” – the
faithful in Christ
V2 From God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ blesses you
with grace and peace
Grace = “unmerited favor” – a love that cannot be earned or
increase/decreased by our human actions/choices. Remember we
are justified (debts paid-‘just as if I never sinned’) by faith in Jesus
NOT by our works…grace “births” justification (Galatians)
Peace (Shalom) = implies reconciliation with God
– reunited with God. Remember Adam and Eve’s
relationship with God before they sinned -
reconciled…a result of experiencing the saving
grace of Jesus Christ –produces SHALOM
Shalom = completeness, soundness –internal
stability like a fence post, safety, contentment, “it
is well with my soul”
Hebrews 4 speaks of the ‘rest of the soul’ through
Jesus –without cannot enter His kingdom
•V3 - 8 A shout of praise! “Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ!”
•He has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing
in Christ
•He chose us before the creation of the world –He chose us to be holy
and blameless in His sight (remember Adam and Eve pre-sin)
•He predestined us for adoption to sonship
•Predestined – Greek term meaning ‘a loving choice of God’ relating
to the mystery of the will of God
•It was God’s choice that Jesus would be predestine (lovingly
chosen) to die on the cross for our sins and raised from the dead –
purchased/redeemed us through Jesus’ blood – forgiven because of
the rich grace of God
•V7 – 8 In accordance the riches of God’s
grace that He lavished on us
•V9 – 10 “He made known to us the mystery
of His will … to be put into effect when the
times reach their fulfillment –to bring unity
to all things in heaven and on earth under
Christ.”
•V11-14 You, too, Ephesians (non-Jewish
believers) were included in God’s
plans…when you believed you were
marked/sealed with the Holy Spirit –
guarantying your inheritance as adopted
children
•V15 –23 Paul continues to rejoice in the growth in the Ephesians
•Paul prays they continue to grow in the Spirit of wisdom and revelation
to know Jesus more and more
•He prays their hearts be enlightened to know the hope that we were
called –this hope is the riches of His inheritance –become true sons
and daughters of the Living God!
•Enlightened to know His incomparably great power –this same mighty
strength that rose Christ from the dead and sat Jesus at the ‘right hand
of God’ in heavenly realms…
•Placed all things under Jesus’ feet and appointed Him head over
everything for the Church –His Body
What do we see?
1. The mystery of His will is to bring unity
to all things in heaven and earth under
Christ’s feet
2. He predestined salvation for all who
would believe in Jesus and obey His
word
3. Grace –unmerited love –cannot be
earned or increased/decreased by our
efforts or actions
4. Mercy –He delays the punishment we
deserve
5. Peace/Shalom –the rest in our heart
when we are reconciled to God through
Christ
